SoCal classic movies, April 24-May 1: ‘Barbie,’ ‘Alien,’ ‘The Mummy,’ a Patricia Rozema retrospective and more
SoCal classic movies, April 24-May 1: ‘Barbie,’ ‘Alien,’ ‘The Mummy,’ a Patricia Rozema retrospective and more
Classic films, film festivals, event screenings, restorations and revivals
Welcome to the latest edition of TV or Not TV’s curated guide to classic movies, events and revivals, film festivals and more screening in LA and OC this week. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for the Los Angeles Times’ Calendar.
Roll ’em!
‘Chocolat’ A young girl from France comes of age in colonial-era Cameroon in acclaimed filmmaker Claire Denis’ semi-autobiographical 1988 debut feature. In French, English, Arabic and Hausa with English subtitles. Laemmle Royal, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A.; Laemmle Glendale, 207 N. Maryland Ave., Glendale; Laemmle Newhall, 22500 Lyons Ave., Newhall; Laemmle Claremont 5, 450 W. 2nd St., Claremont; Laemmle Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Blvd., Encino. 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 24. $10, $13. laemmle.com
‘Alien’ The crew of a spaceship must contend with the worst … stowaway … ever in 45th anniversary screenings of Ridley Scott’s atmospheric 1979 sci-fi/horror thriller starring Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Tom Skerritt, Harry Dean Stanton and Yaphet Kotto. Various theaters, showtimes and prices, April 26 thru May 2. 20thcenturystudios.com
‘Chungking Express’ They’ll always have Hong Kong in Wong Kar-wai’s classic 1994 romantic dramedy. With Takeshi Kaneshiro, Brigitte Lin, Tony Leung and Faye Wong. In Catonese with English subtitles. The Frida Cinema, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 3 and 7:45 p.m. Friday-Saturday and Monday, April 26-27 & 29; 12:30 and 7:45 p.m. Sunday, April 28. $12. thefridacinema.org
‘The Mummy’ An adventurer (Brendan Fraser) and a librarian (Rachel Weisz) get wrapped up in an ancient Egyptian priest’s evil scheme in 25th anniversary screenings of this crackerjack 1999 thriller. Various showtimes and prices, April 26 thru May 2. Various theaters
‘Weekend with … Patricia Rozema’ Co-presented by the Academy Museum and the UCLA Film & Television Archive, this four-film salute to the Canadian filmmaker — who will be on hand for a Q&A at each screening — kicks off with her groundbreaking 1987 LGBTQ-themed comedy-drama “I Heard the Mermaids Singing” and 1999 Jane Austen adaptation “Mansfield Park.” Academy Museum’s Ted Mann Theater, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, April 26-27. $5-$10. academymuseum.org
The series then continues with the 1990 drama “White Room” and the 2000 adaptation “Beckett on Film: Happy Days.” Hammer Museum’s Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28 & 30. Free; no advance reservations; first come, first served. cinema.ucla.edu
(Additionally, select Laemmle Theaters will be screening Rozema’s 1995 romance “When Night is Falling” on May 7-8 and 2018 drama “Mouthpiece” on May 13-14.)
‘Barbie’ Life in plastic? It’s fantastic! Street Food Cinema launches its 13th season with an outdoor screening of Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster 2024 fantasy comedy starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. The Autry Museum, 4700 Western Heritage Way, L.A. Doors, 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27; live music, 6:45 p.m.; movie, 8 p.m. $10-$32. streetfoodcinema.com
‘Cartoon Festival: An Afternoon of Kid’s Favorites’ Bring the young ones for a matinee of classic family-friendly animated shorts hosted by animation historian Jerry Beck. Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27. $10, $12. (310) 322-2592. oldtownmusichall.org
‘Cartoon Festival: An Evening for the Grownups’ Leave the young ones at home for this collection of off-color animated shorts … also hosted by Jerry Beck. Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. 7 p.m. Saturday, April 27. $10, $12. (310) 322-2592. oldtownmusichall.org
‘Léon: The Professional’ Jean Reno plays the titular hitman, and Natalie Portman, the 12-year-old orphan that he’s protecting from corrupt DEA agent Gary Oldman in Luc Besson’s suspenseful 1994 action thriller. Brain Dead Studios at the Silent Movie Theater, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 9:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27. $12. studios.wearebraindead.com
‘Lilies of the Field’ Sidney Poitier became the first Black man to take home the Oscar for best actor for his role in this 1963 drama about a traveling handyman helping to a group of nuns a chapel in a small town in the Arizona desert. Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 4:15 p.m. Saturday, April 27. $9-$12. vidiotsfoundation.org
‘Speed’ The El Capitan’s four-night “One Night Only” series of bona-fide box office hits get rolling with Jan de Bont’s fast-paced 1994 actioner starring Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock and Dennis Hopper. El Capitan Theatre, 6838 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27. $15. (800) 347-6396. elcapitantheatre.com
‘Spirited Away’ A young girl is transported to a mystical realm in Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar-winning 2001 animated fable. Various local theaters (see website). In Japanese with English subtitles: 3 p.m. Saturday, April 27 and 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, April 29 and May 1; dubbed into English: 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday, April 28 and 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 30. $18, $20. fathomevents.com
Tiny Film Fest The shorter, the better in this celebration of engaging short films from around the world, presented in three separate programs and capped off by a winners’ showcase with Q&As and reception/awards ceremony. The Art Theatre of Long Beach, 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach. 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27. $25 per program; passes, $35, $75. tinyfilmfest.org
‘The Godfather’ An offer you can’t refuse: Marlon Brando and Al Pacino head the cast of Francis Ford Coppola’s Oscar-winning 1972 adaptation of author Mario Puzo’s mafia epic. Academy Museum, David Geffen Theater, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 28. $5-$10. academymuseum.org
‘Our Dancing Daughters’ Retroformat Silent Films screens this Jazz Age-inflected 1928 tale starring a young Joan Crawford; presented with live, original musical accompaniment by Cliff Retallick. Lumiere Cinema at the Music Hall, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. 2 p.m. Sunday, April 28. $16. retroformat.org
‘The Passion of Joan of Arc’ The Maid of Orleans has her day in court and then her date with destiny in Carl Theodor Dreyer’s moving 1928 silent drama, presented with live organ accompaniment by Robert York. Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 28. $10, $12. (310) 322-2592. oldtownmusichall.org
‘The Searchers’ John Wayne is a man on a mission to rescue his niece who was abducted by a band of Comanche in a newly struck 70mm print of John Ford’s epic 1956 western. With Jeffrey Hunter and Natalie Wood. American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 7 p.m. Sunday, April 28. $10, $15. americancinematheque.com
VC Film Fest/Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival This multi-venue showcase returns with feature films, documentaries, shorts, etc., plus panel discussions and more. Japanese American Museum, 100 N. Central Ave., and Aratani Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro St., Little Tokyo, downtown L.A. and other area venues. Various showtimes, May 1 thru 10. $15, $20.; some free events; tickets available online only. vcmedia.org